三 is the kanji for 3. Learn its shape and use its different readings in words you can actually say.
The idea
三 has 3 strokes. Draw the three horizontals from top to bottom. Read the table aloud: the independent number is さん, but the reading changes with the word. For example, 三月 is さんがつ, while 三日 as a calendar date is みっか.
| Japanese form | Meaning or situation |
|---|---|
| 三 | number: 3 |
| 三つ | general objects: 3 |
| 三人 | people: 3 |
| 三本 | long objects: 3 |
| 三時 | time: 3 o’clock |
| 三日 | day of the month: 3 |
| 三月 | month: March |
Examples
- 今は三時です。It is 3 o’clock now.
- りんごを三つ買います。I buy 3 apples.
- 店に三人います。There are 3 people in the shop.
- 今日は三日です。Today is the 3rd of the month.
- 三月に旅行します。I travel in March.
- 鉛筆を三本使います。I use 3 pencils.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not guess every reading from the number alone: 三人 is さんにん and 三本 is さんぼん. Compare the shape of 三 with 二; check the source for stroke order.
Try it yourself
Write the number 3 as a kanji.
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三
The number 3 is written 三; compare its shape with 二.
Write the reading of day 3 of the month in hiragana.
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みっか
For the day of the month, 三日 is read みっか; it is a complete date word.
Write the reading for 3 people in hiragana.
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さんにん
For people, 三人 is read さんにん; learn the counter as a whole.
Write the reading for 3 pencils in hiragana.
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さんぼん
For long objects, 三本 is read さんぼん; 本 is the counter used for pencils.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the number 3 as a kanji.
Write the reading of day 3 of the month in hiragana.
Write the reading for 3 people in hiragana.
Write the reading for 3 pencils in hiragana.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 三 three times in stroke order. Then say a date, a time and a quantity using this character; check each full reading in the table.